Wire drawing and spooling apparatus



Sept. 16, 1941. D. E. LEWELLEN ET AL 2,255,935

WIRE DRAWING AND SPOOLING APPARATUS Filed Nov, 25, 1938 S Sheets-Sheet l wwm an N EW M. WUS 1 m E5 um MM% 1, 7

Sept. 16, 1941. D. E. LEWELLEN ETAL 2 3 WIRE DRAWING AND SPOOLING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 25, 1938 flrrom ys p 1941- D. E. LEWELLEN ET AL 2,255,935

WIRE DRAWING AND SPOOLING APPARATUS Filed Nov. I 25, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 & Dmzcv ELEWELLEN Emmous F. Liwmen HTTOPNE Y5 Patented Sept. 16, 1941 2,255,935 WIRE DRAWING A1321 SSPOOLING APPARA- Darcy E. Lewellen and Emmons F. Lewellen, Columbus, Ind.

Application November 25, 1938, Serial No. 242,252

13 Claims.

This invention relates to wire drawing and spooling apparatus, and in particular, to control systems for controlling such apparatus.

One object of this invention is to provide a wire drawing and spooling apparatus having a control system which controls the speed at which the wire is drawn by means responsive to the speed of the wire.

Another object is to provide a wire drawing and spooling apparatus, wherein the speed of the wire actuates electrical control mechanisms for increasing or decreasing the speed at which the wire is being wound upon its receiving spool in response to the speed of the wire being drawn.

Another object is to provide a wire drawing and spooling apparatus, wherein an electrical control system is provided for altering the speed of the wire-receiving spool to compensate for the angular position of the wire as it is wound in layers on the spool, and also to compensate for the different diameters of these layers of wire as the winding proceeds, this electrical control systembeing responsive to the speed of the wire being drawn.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the wire drawing and spooling apparatus arranged according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the electrical control system and the principal mechanical elements of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 controlled by this electrical control system.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the electrical control contactor employed in the electrical control system of Figure 2.

Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 are perspective views of the principal elements of the electrical control contactor with the elements thereof in different positions, according to the difierent behavior of the apparatus during operation.

In general, the wire drawing and spooling apparatus of this invention consists of a supply spool, sheaves upon which the wire runs while being drawn through the drawing dies to reduce its diameter to the desired dimensions, a capstan for pulling the wire to create the drawing force, a plurality of control drums around which the wire passes in loops, these drums being employed for control purposes, and a receiving spool for receivingthe wire which has been drawn. The sheaves and thecapstan are driven by a first variable speed transmission at a suitable speed, whereas the receiving spool is driven by a second variable speed transmission, the speed of which I spool, even though the the speed of one shaft of is controlled by a pilot motor which, in turn, is controlled by a rotary contactor. This rotary contactor includes a pair of independently rotating shafts, one shaft being driven from the capstan and the other from one of the control drums. According to the relative speeds of the two shafts, certain contacts are made or broken, whereby the pilot motor of the second variable speed transmission is caused to rotate in a forward or reverse direction to alter the setting of the second variable speed transmission in accordance with the speed of the wire so that the receivmg spool will be driven at a speed which compensates for the varying speed of the wire due to the angularity of its' position as it passes from one end of the receiving spool to the other end thereof, while being wound, and also to compensate for the varying diameters of the layers of wire as they accumulate upon the receiving spool.

Hitherto, wire drawing'and spooling apparatus has been controlled by means responsive solely to the tension of the wire, the control mechanism being operated by changes in the tension of the wire as governed by a spring-urged mechanism. In contrast to this, the present invention regulates the winding of the wire upon the receiving spool, according to the speed of the wire rather than merely according to its tension.

In winding wire on a receiving spool, even though the spool runs at a constant speed and is winding a single layer of wire across the spool, the speed of the wire actually increases as it is wound from the center toward the end of the spool, in either direction. The speed also decreases as the layer being wound starts from the end of the spool and winds toward the center of the spool from either side thereof. In addition to the change of the speed of the wire, due to its position upon the spool in a given layer, the speed of the wire also increases when it starts winding on the next layer outward from the axis of rotation of the spool. This constantly changing speed of the wire thus takes place in conformity with the changing location or the wire upon the spool is run at a constant speed. In the present invention this changing in the speed of the wire during winding varies the rotary contactor and causes the engagement of electrical contacts which act to increase or decrease the speed at which the receiving spool is being driven so as to maintain an approximately constant winding speed for the wire. In short, therefore, the present invention provides control means sensitive only to the speed of the wire for controlling the speed at which the receiving spool is being driven.

Mechanical construction The mechanical elements of the apparatus are shown in Figure 1. Th principal mechanical elements are generally designated as a first variable speed transmission for driving the sheaves 2 and 3, with multiple diameter grooves upon which the wire is drawn from a wire supply spool 4, through the drawing dies 5, the wire then passing under a roller 6, thence around a capstan i and under a roller 8, to a fixed control drum 9. After passing around the drum 9 the wire continues around a vertically movable control drum ill to form a plurality of loops, which vary in length as the control drum l moves up and down. The control drums 9 and ID ar provided with a plurality of grooves so that the wire makes a plurality of loops before proceeding onward to the receiving spool H. The receiving spool H is driven by a second variable speed transmission |2, the speed of which is adjusted by a pilot-operated device l3, in accordance with,

the operation of the rotary control contactor it. The electrical control system is likewise subject to the control of an upper limit switch I and a lower limit switch l6, operated in response to the rising or falling of the control drum ID. The wire itself is designated l1 during its entire course from the wire supply spool 4 to the wirereceiving spool A signal box i8 is provided for indicating the operative condition of the electrical circuit. A motor l9, mounted upon the fram 2|], operates the apparatus.

Th motor i9 is provided with a drive shaft 2| carrying a pulley 22, from which a belt 23 drives a pulley 24 on the input shaft 25 of the cones 25 of the first variable speed transmission i. The cones 26 are connected with the cones 21 by means of the belt 23. The cones 21 are mounted upon the output shaft 29 which carries sprockets 39, 3| and 32. From the sprockets 39 and Si the chains 33 and 34 drive the sprockets 35 and 36 upon the shafts 31 and 38 of the sheaves 2 and 3, respectively. From the sprocket 32 the chain 39 drives the sprocket 40 upon the shaft 4| of the capstan I. Also mounted upon the capstan shaft 4| is a sprocket 42 from which a chain 43 drives a sprocket 43 on the input shaft 44-. of the second variable speed transmission I2. The shaft 44 carries the cones 45 which drive the cones 46 on the output shaft 41 by means of the belt 48. The output shaft 41 carries a sprocket 49 from which the chain 50 drives the sprocket 5| upon the receiving spool shaft 52, by which the wirereceiving spool I is driven.

The second variable speed transmission is provided with a speed-adjusting shaft 53 by the rotation of which the cones 45 and 46 may be moved toward or away from one another so as to varythe output'speed of the transmission for a given input speed. The constructions of the variable speed transmissions I and I2 are conventional and are known to those skilled in the art. The control arrangement involving the control shaft 53 and the pilot-operated device l3 is disclosed in the Lewellen Patent No. 2,117,486, issued May '17, 1938. For this purpose the speed-adjusting shaft 53 carries a sprocket 54, from which a chain 55 extends around the sprocket 56 on the low speed output shaft 51 of the pilot motor 58.

The rotary control contactor I4 is provided with shafts 59 and 60, carrying sprockets 62 and 63 (Figure 2) from which the chains 64 and 65 run to sprockets 66 and 61 upon the capstan shaft and F2 are firmly fixed to the shaft 69 (Figure 3'). The loosely mounted discs 69 and iii are spaced. apart by a spacer 59 and yieldingly urged by a .coil spring 6| toward a collar 59 fixed to the shaft 59. Spring 6 l, in turn, engages a second collar 6|", likewise fixed to the shaft 59. The drive is thus a yielding drive by reason of the spring 9| holding these loosely mounted parts against the collar 59.

The disc 7| carries a metallic contact band '73 for conducting electricity to and from a contact bar l4 mounted in the disc 1 l, and connected to the band 13 by the conductor '79. A similar contact bar 16 is mounted upon the disc 12, and is connected to the contact band Tl thereon through the conductor 18. The disc ill carries a contact band 19 which is electrically connected to adjustable contacts 99 and 8|. The disc 69 carries a contact band 82, which is electrically connected to the contacts 83 and 84. The contacts 80, 9|, 83 and 94 are preferably in the form of screws so that they are adjustable as regards their positions of engagement with the contact bars 14 and 16. Contact with the bands i3, H, 19 and 82 is made by means of the arms 85, 96, 91 and 88, respectively. The control drum i9 is mounted upon a shaft 89, which is rotatably Electrical circuit and operation In the electrical control circuit the various wires shown in Figure 2 are most conveniently designated during the discussion of the operation. In addition to the motors and switches previously described, the circuit of Figure 2 contains a pair of four-blade contactor switches 94 and 95 having operating coils 96 and 91 and armatures 96 and 99. Also provided is an intermittent contactor I06, consisting of a motor |0| rotating a star cam I92 engaging a switch blade I63. In the circuit of Figure 2 the power lines forsupplying current to the pilot motor 58 are indicated with heavy lines, and the control circuit in light lines.

Current from an outside source is supplied through the powerlines HI, 2 and H3.' Before starting the winding operation the wire I! is passed from the supply spool 4, around the vari-' ous grooves in the sheaves 2 and 3, thence around the roller 6, the capstan I and the roller 8, thence around the multiple grooves on the control drums 9 and I0 so as to form a plurality of loops therebetween, and finally from thelast groove inthe drum 9 to the wire-receiving spool As the control drum 9 is fixed to the shaft 68, the movement of the wire I! drives the shaft 68 in a counterclockwise direction, and by means of the sprockets 61 and 63 and chain 65 drives thev shaft 59 of the rotary control contactor in a counterclockwise direction. The shaft H of the capstan 1 drives the other shaft 60 of the rotary control contactor I4 through the sprockets 56 and 02 and chain 64, as previously mentioned. The main driving motor I9 is then started and drives the first variable speed transmission I, the output shaft 29 of which drives the sheaves 2 and 3, the capstan 1 and the input shaft 44 of the second variable speed transmission. I 2, as previously described. The first variable speed transmission I is adjusted so as to give an output speed suitable for moving the wire I1 at an appropriate rate through the drawing dies 5 by which the wire is successively reduced to smaller diameters. The output speed of the output shaft 41 of the second variable speed transmission I2 is automatically adjusted during operation, in accordance with the shifting of its speed-adjusting shaft 53 by the pilot motor 58, in accordance with the action of the rotary control contactor I4 and the electrical circuit associated therewith.

The purpose of the automatic control system including the rotary contactor I4 is to cause the second variable speed transmission I 2, through its output shaft 41, to drive the wirereceiving spool shaft 52 at a rotational speed which will wind the wire on the receiving spool II at approximately the same speed as the speed possessed by the wire passing from the capstan 1. When the shafts 59 and 60 of the rotary control contactor I4 are revolving at exactly the same speeds, no control action takes place because the contact bars 14 and 19 of the rotary contactor I4 cannot come into engagement with any of the contacts 80, 8|, 83 or 84. As the wire I1 is drawn through the drawing dies 5 and is subsequently wound upon the wire-receiving spool II, the diameter of the winding on the spool II increases. Furthermore, as the linear speed of the wire I1 increases, due to the change in angularity of the wire in traveling from one side of the spool II to the other, the speed of the shaft 68 will be increased and with it the speed of the rotary control contactor shaft 59. As both of the rotary control contactor shafts 59 and 60 rotate in the same counterclockwise direction, when the speed of the shaft 59 is This energizes the coil 91 and closes the blades 95 to 95 of the contactor switch 95, thereby connecting the power lines I20, I2I and I22 .with the lines I23, I24 and I25 running to the pilot motor lines I 26, I21 and I28. respectively.

When the contacts of the switch 95 are thus closed, a holding circuit is formed through the lowest switch blade 95- of the switch 95, from the power line I I2, through theline I2I, the contact II4, the intermittent contactor switch blade I03, the contact II5, the lowest switch blade 95 the line I29, the contact I30 and switch blade I3I of the upper limit switch I5, the contact I32, the line I33, the operating coil 91 of the contactor switch 95, the power line I20 to the power line III. Thus the operating coil 91 is maintained energized and the contactor switch 95 kept closed, even though the engagement of the rotary contactor contact 8I with the contact bar 14 should be broken. This action prevents arcing at the contact points in the rotary contactor I4. The contactor switch 95, therefore, holds its switch blades 95 to 95 in engagement with their contacts, energizing the pilot motor lines I26, I21 and I28 and causing the pilot motor 58 to rotate until the intermittent contactor I00, through its star cam I02, permits the switch blade I03 to open the circuit between the contacts H4 and II 5 thereof, thereby deenergizing the contactor switch 95 and stopping the pilot motor 58. While the pilot motor 58 is rotating, however, it rotates the adjusting shaft 53 of the second variable speed transmission I2 so as to vary the speed of the output shaft 41 and correspondingly vary the speed of the wire-receiving spool shaft 52. This is accomplished by shifting the discs 45 and 46 of the second variable speed transmission I2 so as to reduce the speed of the wire-receiving spool shaft 52'.

If the contact BI and the bar 14 continue in engagement, by reason of the fact that this first speed adjustment of the variable speed transmission I2 is not suflicient to correct the out-ofspeedcondition of the wire-receiving spool shaft 52, the next closing of the intermittent contactor contacts H4 and II5, through the switch blade I03, will make another speed correction of the variable speed transmission I2 and will continue increased slightly by the increased speed of the wire as it is wound upon the wire-receiving spool II for the foregoing reasons, the contact screw 8| comes into engagement with the contact bar 14.

In the intermittent contactor I00 the motor IOI rotates the star cam I02, which opens and closes the circuit through the switch blade I03 at a regularly timed rate, so as to intermittently connect and disconnect the contacts H4 and H5. The intermittent contactor motor IIlI operates continuously because the circuit is completed from the power line II 2 to the motor contact IIB, thence through the motor windings to the motor contact H1, and thence back to the power line II I; When the switch blade I03 is closed upon the contacts H4 and H5 by the star cam I 02, the circuit is completed from the power line II2 to the contact II4. through the switch blade I03, the contact II5, thence through the wire II8, the contact arm or brush 81, the band 19, the contact 8I, the contact bar 14, the connection 15, the band 13, the contact arm or brush 85, the wire II9, the operating coil 91 of the contactor switch 95, the line I20 to the power line III (Figure 2) in this manner until the rotary contactor shafts 59 and 60 are brought into synchronism. When this synchronism occurs the rotary contactor contact M and the contact bar 14 will move out of engagement, breaking the previously described control circuit, deenergizing the operating coil 91 of the contactor switch 95, opening the switch blades thereof and halting the pilot motor 58 and discontinuing the speed corrections of the second variable, speed transmission I 2. In the event that an excessive out-of-speed condition of the shafts 52 and 59 exists relatively to the shafts 60 and H, the disc 10 will halt with its contact 8| in engagement with the contact bar 14, while the spring 6| permits the disc 69 and shaft 59 to continue to move so as to bring the contact 84 into engagement with the contact bar 14 (Figure 5). When this occurs a control circuit will be completed from the power line I I2. through the line I34, the contact arm or brush 88, the band 82, the contact 84, the contact bar 14, the connection 15, the band 13, the contact arm or brush 85, the line II9, the operating coil 91 of the contactor switch 95 and the line I 20 to the power line III, energizing and closing the contactor switch 95 if it is not already closed. This action bridges the intermittently acting 4 switch blade I03 of the intermittent contactor I and causes the pilot motor 58 to be energized from the contactor switch 95, through the lines I23 to I28, whereupon the pilot motor 58 rotates continuously to rotate the speed-adjusting shaft 53 until the second variable speed transmission I2 has altered the speed of the wire-receiving spool shaft 52 .until the rotary contactor shafts 59 and 60 come into synchronism. When synchronism occurs the contacts 84 and 8| become disengaged from the contact bar 14, in the manner previously described, and the pilot motor 58 halts. In this manner any slight out-of-synchronism condition between the shafts 52 and 59 and the shafts 4| and 60 is corrected by slight intermittent movements of the pilot motor 58 and adjusting shaft 53 of the second variable speed transmission I2, whereas any excessive out-0fspeed synchronism condition is corrected by a continuous movement of the same parts of the second variable speed transmission I2.

If, however, the speed of the wire I1 being wound upon the wire-receiving spool II should be such as to rotate the drum 9 and rotary contactor shaft 59 at a slightly slower speed than the rotary contactor shaft 60, the contact 80 of the rotary contactor disc 10 will'move into engagement with the contact bar 16 (Figure 6). In that case, when the intermittent contactor switch blade I03 closes upon its contacts II 4 and H5,

a circuit is completed from the power line II 2, by way of the line I2I, the contact II4, the switch blade I03, the contact I I5, the line I35, the contact arm or brush 81, the band 19 on the disc 10, the contact 80, the contact bar 16, the connection 18, the band 11, the contact arm or brush 86, the line I36, the operating coil 96 of the contactor switch 94 and the line I20 to the power line III, thus energizing the coil 96 and closing the switch blades 94 to 94 of the contactor switch 94 upon their contacts. When this occurs a holding circuit is completed from the power line II2, by way of the line I2I, the contact II4, the switch blade I03, the contact II5, the switch blade 94 the line I31, the contact I38, the switch blade I39 and contact I40 of the lower limit switch I6, the line I4I, the operating coil 96 and the line I 20 to the power line III, continuing the energization of the coil 96 and holding the contactor switch 94 closed until the switch blade I03 is released by the star cam I02. This likewise prevents arcing at the rotary contactor contact points.

While the contactor switch 94 is closed the pilot motor 58 is energized to rotate in a reverse direction from the rotation previously described, by way of the power line III, the line I20, the

switch blade 94*, the line I42 and the line I26 to the motor 58. Another circuit is also completed from the power line II2, through the line I2I, switch blade 94 and the lines I43 and I21, to the motor 58. The third circuit is completed from the power line I I3, through the line I22, the switch blade 94 and the lines I44 and I28, to the motor 58. Thus the pilot motor 58 rotates to rotate the adjusting shaft53 of the variable speed transmission I2 in a reverse direction to increase the speeds of the output shaft 41, the wire-receiving spool shaft 52 and the rotary contactor shaft 59 relatively to the rotary contactor shaft 60.

In case of an excessive and continued reduction in the speeds of the shafts 41, 52 and 59 relatively to the shaft 60 of the rotary contactor I4, the contact 80 remains in engagement with the contact bar 16, but the spring 6| (Figure 3) permits the disc 69 to rotate until the contact 83 thereon also engages the contact Mr 16 (Figure 7). A circuit is then completed from the power line 2, line I34, contact arm or brush 88, band 82, the contact 83, the contact bar 16, the connection 18, band 11, the contact arm or brush 86, line I36, operating coil 96 and line I20 to the power line III, energizing the operating coil 96 and closing or holding closed the contactor switch 94. This action bridges the contacts II4 and H5, the switch blade I03 of the intermittent contactor I 00 and causes the pilot motor 58 to be energized and rotate continuously to adjust the speed-adjusting shaft 53 of the second variable speed transmission I2 until the shafts 52, 68 and 59 are brought into synchronism again with the shafts 60 and M, whereupon the contacts 83 and will disengage themselves from the contact bar 16.

During the drawing operation the increasing diameter of the outer layer of wire on the wirereceiving spool II will increase the speed of the wire I1 as it is wound on the spool, and will also increase the speed of the drum shaft 88. The drums 9 and I0 are used to provide an amount of accumulated wire in loops between the capstan 1 and the wire-receiving spool II. During the different synchronizing opeartions described above, this amount of accumulated wire may increase or decrease and raise or lower the drum I0. To prevent the drum I0 from moving too high or too low in the guide slot 92, the limit switches I5 and I6 are provided. These are limit switches of the snap type, which are normally closed upon the contacts I32 and I30 of the upper switch I5 or I40 and I38 of the lower switch I6, as shown in Figure 2. When the rollers I45 and I46 on these switches have moved a predetermined amount by their engagement with the arm 9| on the bearing block of the lower drum I0, the switch blade I3I or I39 of the upper switch I5 or lower switch I6 is moved to engage the opposite contact I41 or I48, depending upon whether the drum I0 has reached the upper or lower limit of its travel. The spring in each switch I5 or I6 holds the switch blade normally in the position indicated in Figure 2, and returns it to this position after the arm 9I has released the roller I45 or I46.

Assuming that the loops of accumulated wire I1 are decreasing in length so that the drum I0 is moved upward, then when the arm 9I engages the roller I45 so as to shift the switch blade ,I3I from contact I30 to contact I41, a circuit is completed from the power line II I, by way of the line I20, the coil 91, the line I33, the contact I32 of the upper limit switch I5, the switch blade I3 I, the contact I41, the line I49 and the line I2I to the power line II2, energizing the operating coil 91 and closing the switch blades 95 to 95 of the contactor switch 95 upon their contacts, thus energizing the pilot motor 58 to move the speedadjusting shaft 53 of the second variable speed transmission I2 in a'direction to reduce the speed of the wire-receiving spool shaft 52 and the speed of the wire I1, thus allowing the loops thereof to increase in lengthand lowering the drum I0 in the guide slot 92. As this drum is lowered the switch roller I45 is moved by the spring in the switch in the opposite direction until it reaches the point where the switch blade I3I interconnects the contacts I32 and I30. The circuits previously described are then set to automatically synchronize the speeds through the contacts of the rotary contactor I4, and the control circuits operate in the previously described manner to again synchronize the speeds ofthe rotary contactor shafts 59 and 60. During the time the pilot motor 58 has been energized through the engagement of the contacts I32 and I" of the upper limit switch I5, however, additional wire has accumulated in the loops between the drums 9 and I and the drum III will therefore be in a lower position in the guide slot 92.

A similar action takes place in the event that the drum I0 moves to the lower end of the slot 92 upon an abnormal lengthening of the loops of wire between the drums 9 and I0. In that event the roller I46 is engaged by the arm 9| shifting the switch blade I38 of the lower contactor switch IE to interconnect the contacts I40 and I48 thereof, In this event a circuit is completed from the power line H2, by way of the line I2I, the line I49, the contact I", the line I50, the contact I48, the switch blade I 39 of the lower limit switch IS, the contact I40, the line I, the operating coil 96 and the line I20, to the power line III, energizing and closing the contactor switch 94. This action energizes and reverses the rotary movement of the pilot motor 58 so that it rotates the speed-adjusting shaft 53 in a direction to increase the speed of the output shaft 41 of the variable speed transmission I2 and likewise to increase the speed of the wirereceiving spool shaft 52 and accordingly increase the speed of the wir I! being wound upon the wire-receiving spool II. This action decreases the amount of wire in the loops extending between the drums 9 and I0 and raises the drum I0 to a higher point in the guide slot 92. The

arm 9i then releases the roller I46 and the switch blade I39 of the lower limit switch I6 returns to its engagement with the contact I38, after which time the contacts in the rotary contactor I4 will again synchronize the speeds of the rotary contactor shafts 59 and 60. V

It will be understood that we desire to comprehend within our invention such modifications as come within the scope of the claims and the invention.

' Having thus fully described our invention, what We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, :is:

I. In spooling mechanism adapted to beused with a wire-drawing apparatus, a winding spool, constant speed means for feeding wire towards said spool, variable speed driving means for driving the winding spool at diiierent speeds,

a first electrical control means operatively driving at a constant speed by said feeding means a second electrical control means operatively driven by the speed of the wire, said control means being arranged for asynchronous operation for adjustably varying the output speed of said variable speed driving means whereby to increase or decrease the speed of the winding spool to compensate for the varying layer diameter and positions of the wire as it is wound on the spool. 2. In spooling mechanism adapted to be used with a wire-drawing apparatus, a winding spool, means for feeding wire towards said spool, and means directly responsive to the linear speed of said wire for maintaining a predetermined length of wire loop between said feeding means and said winding spool.

3. In spooling mechanism adapted to be used with a. wire-drawing apparatus, a winding spool, means for feedin wire towards said spool, means for maintaining a predetermined length of wire loop between said feeding means and said winding spool within predetermined limits, and means directly responsive to the linear speed of said wire for regulating the speed of said winding.

spool whereby to compensate for a change in length of said predetermined length of wire loop.

4. In spooling mechanism adapted to be used with a wire processing'system, a wire-receiving spool, means for feeding wire towards said wirereceiving spool, variable speed driving mechanism connected to drive said wire-receiving spool and having a speed varying member, a pilot motor for moving said speed-varying member, and speed-synchronizing switch mechanism electrically connected to said pilot motor and operatively connected to said wire-feeding means and responsive to the speed of the wire entering said wire-receiving spool to alter the energization of said pilot motor to increase or decrease the speed of said wire-receiving spool.

5. In spooling mechanism adapted to be used with a wire processing system, a. wire-receiving spool, means for feeding wire towards said wirereceiving spool, variable speed driving mechanism connected to drive said wire-receiving spool and having a speed-varying member, a pilot motor for moving said speed-varying member, a rotatable element engaging said wire for rotation thereby, and speed-synchronizing switch mechanism electrically connected to said pilot motor and operatively connected to said wire-feeding means and to said rotatable element for altering the energization of said pilot motor to increase or decrease the speed of said wire-receiving spool in response to the speed of the wire being wound upon said wire-receiving spool.

6. In spooling mechanism adapted to be used with a wire processing system, a wire-receiving spool, means for feeding wire towards said wirereceiving spool, variable speed driving mechanism connected to drive said wire-receiving spool and having a speed-varying member, a pilot motor for moving said speed-varying member, a rotatable element engaging said wire for rotation thereby, speed-synchronizing switch mechanism electrically connected to said pilot motor and operativelyconnected to said wire-feeding means and to said rotatable element for altering the energization of said pilot motor to increase or decrease the speed of said wire-receiving spool in response to the,'speed of the wire being wound upon said wire-receiving spool, means for forming a loop of wire between said wire-moving means and said wire-receiving spool, and means responsive to the length of said loop for varying the adjustment of said speed-varying member.

7. In spooling mechanism adapted to be used with a wire processing system, a wire-receiving spool, means for feeding wire towards said wirereceiving spool, variable speed driving mechanism connected to drive said wire-receiving spool and having a speed varying member, a pilot motor for moving said speed-varying member, a rotatable means supported by the wire between said wire receiving spool and said wire feeding means the wire passing around the rotatable means under tension, said rotatable means being responsive to changes in the length of wire between said wire feeding means and said wire receiving spool for altering the energization of said pilot motor to increase or decrease the speed of said wire-receiving spool.

8. In spooling mechanism adapted to be used with a wire processing system, a wire-receiving spool, means for feeding wire towards said wirereceiving spool, variable speed driving mechanism connected to drive said wire-receiving spool and having a speed-varying member, a pilot motor for moving said speed-varying member, means for forming a loop of wire between said wire-drawing means and said wire-receiving spool and having a rotatable member engaging the wire for rotation thereby, synchronizing switch mechanism electrically connected to said pilot motor and rotatably connected to said wire-feeding means and to said rotatable memher for altering the energization of said pilot motor to increase or decrease the speed of said wire-receiving spool, and means responsive to the length of said loop for additionally regulating the actuation of said pilot motor.

9. In spooling mechanism adapted to be used with a wire processing system, wire-receiving means, variable speed driving mechanism connected to drive said receiving means and having a speed-adjusting member, means for feeding wire towards said wire-receiving means, an electric motor connected to-said speed-adjusting member for reversibly rotating the same, and a synchronizing switch connected to regulate the supply of electricity to said motor, said synchronizing switch having one portion movably connected to said wire-feeding means and another portion movable in response to the speed of the wire entering said wire-receiving means.

10. In spooling mechanism adapted to be used with a wire processing system, wire-receiving means, variable speed driving mechanism connected to drive said receiving means and having a speed-adjusting member, means for feeding wire towards said wire-receiving means, an electric motor connected to said speed-adjusting member for reversibly rotating the same, and a synchronizing switch connected to regulate the supply of electricity to said motor, said synchronizing switch having one portion movably connected to said wire-feeding means and another portion movable in response to the speed of the wire entering said wire-receiving means, said switch portions having contacts mounted thereon and engageable in response to an asynchronous speed relationship between the wire emerging from said feeding means and the wire entering said wire-receiving means.

11. In spooling mechanism adapted to be used witha wire processing system, wire-receiving means, variable speed driving mechanism connected to drive said receiving means and having a speed-adjusting member, means for feeding wire towards said wire-receiving means, an electric motor connected to said speed-adjusting member for reversibly rotating the same, and a synchronizing switch connected to regulate the supply of electricity to said motor, said synchronizing switch having one portion movably connected to said wire-feeding means and another portion movable in response to the speed of the wire entering said wire-receiving means, said switch portions having contacts mounted thereon and engageable in response to an asynchronous speed relationship between the wire emerging from said feeding means and the wire entering said wire-receiving means, said contacts upon engagement being adapted to transmit electricity to said electric motor.

12. In spooling mechanism adapted to be used with a wire processing system, wire-receiving means, variable speed driving mechanism connected to drive said receiving means and having a speed-adjusting member, means for feeding wire towards said wire-receivin means, an electric motor connected to said speed-adjusting member for reversibly rotating the same, a synchronizing switch connected to regulate the supply of electricity to said motor, and an element rotatably engaged by the wire entering said wire-receiving means, said switch having a rotatable member with contacts rotatably connected to said wirefeeding means and a second rotatable member with contacts rotatably connected to said rotatable element, said contacts being engageable upon the arising of asynchronism between the speed of the wire emerging from said feeding means and the speed of the wire entering said wire-receiving means.

13. In spooling mechanism adapted to be used with a wire drawing apparatus, a winding spool, means for feeding wire toward said spool, variable speed driving means for driving the spool at different speeds, means responsive to the linear speed of the wire for regulating the speed of said winding spool, means around which the wire passes under tension for regulating the length of a wire loop between said wire feeding means and said spool, said means including means movable in response to changes in the length of said loop, and means responsive to the changing position of said last mentioned means for augmenting control of the speed regulation of said variable speed driving means.

DARCY E. LEWELLEN. EMMONS F. LEWEHEN. 

